New Dresses

Today we are thankful for the "Prayers and Squares" sewing group from Grace Church in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. They spent hours sewing beautiful dresses of all sizes for the 40 girls at Espwa.

Sonice striking a sassy pose. 

It took several people to help arrange the girls in order from tallest to shortest ("plis gran" and "plis petit"). But the chaotic arrangement was worth it when a wide smile spread across each girl's face as a colorful dress was placed in their hands.

The girls looked fantastic in the bright shades of pink and blue and orange-- a needed addition to their often dirtied and torn play clothes. Thank you for your thoughtful donation, Prayers and Squares!

Green Fingers

Today Cameron, our resident horticulturist, and some of the other volunteers visited the girl's domes to help plant some Moringa trees around the property. Cameron taught the kids how to help dig the holes and plant trees inside, filling each hole with dirt and surrounding it with rock to keep the Moringa in place.

When the trees flower they will give some extra shade for the girls to play under and add some fresh greenery to the place. The kitchen will also be able to continue to use the leaves to cook foods with extra nutrients for the kids with the ongoing Moringa project.

All of the girls at the domes helped out today with the planting and even some of the babies lent a hand shoveling rocks.

Many Hands Make Light Work

"Men anpil chay pas lou." In Haitian Creole: many hands make light work.

Last night a shipment container arrived from some of Espwa's supporting organizations. The container was filled with boxes of nutrient-rich food that greatly helps supplement the diets of those at Espwa. And when we receive a shipment like this, many of the older students gather to help unload the boxes from the trucks. Each box is passed or tossed down the line of Espwa students into the building where they can be unpacked and stored for later use.

All across Espwa you could hear the commotion last night as the container was unpacked over the course of an hour or so and the pile of boxes in the storage building grew. After all of their hard work emptying the massive truck, the students celebrated with soft drinks for everyone.

We're looking forward to putting the new supplies to use that are such an important part of Espwa's food supply.

First Responders

Kudos to our long-term volunteer Mackenzie from NJ, on holding her first week of CPR/1st aid classes for Espwa students. The inaugural class is small but very enthusiastic, and we're looking forward to much more participation to come!

Reunion

This week we welcomed back Amanda and Fritz, two old friends and members of the Espwa family. They've come to visit us with some of their family, including their two little girls - who are the same age as our youngest. Here's Mia, on the right, playing with Jakson; two sides of the same family.

Solemnity

A very solemn day yesterday, when we held Ralph's funeral service and burial. Staff, students, friends,  house mothers, and acquaintances were all there. It was a very emotional moment for us, but one of release and hope.

Big Day

Yesterday was a big day for some of our young men and women who received First Communion, like Sam here:

Days like these are important for the kids; like landmarks in their journey of faith, they give them a spiritual foundation and strengthen their relationship with a God who loves them. Congratulations, guys!

30 Years of Fidelity

Fr. Tilus, Chancellor of the Diocese of Les Cayes, Fr. Marc (with Jakson) and Fr. Fred of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate

Congratulations to Fr. Marc on the thirtieth anniversary of his ordination yesterday. It's been a long journey, and a continuing one - and the first "yes" to the life-changing call of priesthood would echo the "yes" to the call of starting Espwa, a place that would change the lives of countless young men and women in Haiti.

To celebrate, we had a special reception in the Guest House. Very pleasant.

And of course, a Spektak: here the boys reboot an old favorite; a great routine inspired by a great pop icon - any guesses as to who?

Happy Mothers' Day!

This Sunday is Mothers' Day in Haiti, and to celebrate we held a big assembly honoring all Espwa mothers - house moms and employees with children at home. Here are some of the honored guests, who have all dressed to the nines for the occasion.

Here's Matante, the original Espwa mom and matriarch.

There were several skits and performances, including this one by the girls.

A nice time was had by all. Of course it wouldn't be a Haitian party without dancing:

Being a mother is no easy job, especially here. A special thanks from our deepest hearts to all mothers, near and afar.

Bonus picture: MC Jakson

Blessing

Today Fr. Marc was invited to the prison of Les Cayes, where he gave a benediction for the opening of the new women's wing. This is a tremendous improvement in the living conditions of the inmates there and an encouraging reminder that day by day, there is progress in Haiti.

Happy Teachers' Day!

Here in Haiti, we celebrate Teachers' Day on May 16. Undaunted by heavy rains that morning, Espwa school teachers and children came together yesterday for a special assembly to honor our educators and their special contribution to the lives of our children.

It was a day of acknowledgment, speeches, and performance. Here the littlest students share some encouraging words for their teachers - like they say, 'from the mouths of babes':

Remember these guys? The Espwa nan Nwel 2013 winners performed a groovy tune:

And here the principals of the secondary school and kindergarten, left to right, present the teachers with honorary certificates:

Educators, thank you for all you do for the children!

Talent Found

This letter has some very exciting news for Terry, one of our teenage boys and a star player on the Espwa soccer team. It's from club America (name, not country), a Les Cayes soccer team and one of the best in the country. They've seen his talent and are inviting him to try out for their team. This may be Terry's first step to becoming recognized on a regional, even national level. And it's possible because he was able and be a member of team Espwa.

Hygiene Packets

Some of the older boys had a work get-together yesterday where they assembled hygiene bags. 

Some of our very involved young men, like Ernest, above, and Mikenson, below, were among the first to pitch in. Good work, guys!

Happy Birthday Fr. Marc

Yesterday we had a birthday party for Fr. Marc, to celebrate the founder who started it all, who to this day remains at the very heart of Espwa. God bless you at the start of another year, FM!

Of course the kids had a chance to party too - here are some of the littlest tykes enjoying Sonia's cooking:

Widleux

A bit too much excitement last evening: Widleux is a 10 year old boy from Guilleme, the village nearby. Yesterday afternoon he tried jumping on a moving tap-tap (a trick to avoid paying the fare) and wasn't so successful - he fell down and hit his head on the street. As the driver began speeding off, Enold and Berthony - two of our directors at Espwa who were leaving work at the time - chased him down and brought him to the police station. Nathalie, living nearby, stayed with the child and helped him get to the hospital in town where he was sutured.  Get this-- he was sewn up with no anesthetic. Yikes!

He came by this afternoon (see photo) to thank Berthony and Enold and to have his wound checked out.  Our clinic gave him some Ibuprofen and an antibiotic.  I don't think he'll be chasing down tap-taps any time soon.

Saturday Morning Cleaning

Tables and chairs in the girls village - all made at the Espwa carpentry shop - about to be thoroughly washed down by our house mothers. Even with a gaggle of little girls to take care of, they make time to keep the place clean.

You know what they say, cleanliness is next to Godliness (and these ladies have got a lot of both)

Happy Labor Day

May 1 is Haitian Labor Day - schools let out for the day and the kids gathered in the dining room for some 'Spektak' performances, music, and a presentation on planting trees in Haiti (pictured above - an important issue, given the topsoil erosion throughout the country).

Afternoon Treat

Sonice, enjoying a cup of ice cream (her first ever!) at the Quad. She's come a very long way from the scared, unresponsive little baby on the brink of starvation we took in a year and a half ago - another life made possible by Espwa.

Fr. Marc Update - Home Sweet Home

After a successful surgery and a good prognosis, Fr. Marc returned home yesterday to a very warm welcome. The Espwa family gathered to greet him, sing a few songs and say a few words (and then let him go home to rest, of course!)

We are tremendously grateful to God for FM's safe return and good health. Thank you to all you who have kept and continue to keep him in your thoughts and prayers.

Happy Birthday, Matante

Today was the big 75 for Matante, the head house monitor and spiritual mother for everyone here. She's an amazing, godly woman who is at the heart of the Espwa mission.

Thank you all you have done and continue to do, Matante! Happy birthday!